Free-standing modular frame and liner for holding liquid in a shipping container

ABSTRACT

A system for treating wastewater includes an intermodal shipping container and a scalable, modular receptacle spaced apart from interior walls of the container. The receptacle includes a plurality of frame structures spaced apart from one another. The frame structures each include two elongate frame members that are spaced apart from one another and that extend in parallel. The receptacle further includes an insulation member supported between the frame members of adjacent frame structures. The insulation member defines an inner surface that is coplanar with inner surfaces of the frame members. The receptacle further includes an impermeable liner that is configured to hold a large volume of liquid. The liner has a liner wall that is positioned against the inner surface of the insulation member and the inner surfaces of the frame members to support the liner wall against a hydraulic load of the liquid.

FIELD

This application relates generally to the field of large receptacles forholding liquid and, more particularly, to a scalable, modular receptacleincorporated into an intermodal shipping container for use in awastewater treatment system.

BACKGROUND

Decentralized wastewater treatment systems and industrial wastepretreatment systems (also known as “packages”) are comprised of similarunit operations as larger centralized municipal wastewater treatmentfacilities except that the equipment and reactors are generallydownscaled as compared to high-flow facilities. Additionally, thesesmaller systems are often pre-fabricated off-site, and the completedproduct is then shipped to a final installation location. As such, anintermodal shipping container provides advantages for these smallertreatment systems in terms of transportability, protection of equipment,and desirable reactor size and aspect ratios. The standard high-cubecontainer can be modified to be liquid tight and contain the necessarythird-party treatment equipment to accomplish most treatment objectivesby varying the configuration of reactors and other equipment in thecontainer, including but not limited to flow equalization basins,activated sludge reactors, clarifiers, tertiary filters, disinfectionchambers, post-aeration reactors, solids holding basins, and equipmentrooms. However, because the size of a single intermodal container canlimit the treatment capacity of any given system, many systems aredesigned and constructed with consideration of expandable modularity forfuture growth and expansion.

Unmodified intermodal shipping containers are generally not suitable foruse as a liquid holding tank. For one, the walls and joints of thesecontainers are typically not configured to be liquid-tight or toadequately support the hydraulic load of the liquid therein.Furthermore, these containers are typically constructed of light gaugesteel with spray-on coatings that if left un-maintained will deteriorateover time until leakage occurs. Such failure will be accelerated in acorrosive wastewater treatment environment. Existing wastewatertreatments systems that utilize intermodal shipping containers havefocused on modifications to the shipping container to support thesignificant hydraulic loads and insulate the container from the externalenvironment. However, these existing systems do not completely isolatethe reactors from corrosion-prone components, nor do these systemsspecifically address reactor access, which is major consideration forlong term operations and maintenance activities. Wastewater treatmentpackages require regular maintenance and reactor observation similar tolarger facilities, but due to project cost constraints the current stateof the art provides limited accommodation for operators and maintenancepersonnel. Also, limited fall protection is provided by currentcontainer modification methods.

What is needed, therefore, is a receptacle for a wastewater treatmentsystem that addresses one or more of the problems in the art. A systemfor treating wastewater that includes the receptacle disposed in anintermodal shipping container would be further advantageous.

SUMMARY

A scalable, modular receptacle for holding a liquid in one embodimentincludes a plurality of frame structures spaced apart in a firstdirection, each frame structure including a plurality of frame membersaligned in a plane normal to the first direction, the frame membersincluding at least two elongate side members spaced apart in a seconddirection orthogonal to the first direction, the side members extendingin a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, aside insulation member supported between the side members of adjacentframe structures, the side insulation member defining an inner surfacethat extends in a plane normal to the second direction and that iscoplanar with respective inner surfaces of the side members, and animpermeable liner configured to hold a large volume of the liquid, theliner including a plurality of walls with at least one wall positionedagainst the inner surface of the side insulation member and the innersurfaces of the side members of the adjacent frame structures such thatthe at least one wall is supported against a hydraulic load of theliquid.

A system for treating wastewater in one embodiment includes anintermodal shipping container with a container floor and a plurality ofcontainer walls extending from the container floor, the container floorand the container walls defining an interior of the intermodal shippingcontainer, and a scalable, modular receptacle positioned on thecontainer floor and spaced apart from the container walls, thereceptacle including a plurality of frame structures spaced apart fromone another, each frame structure including two elongate side membersspaced apart from one another and extending perpendicularly relative tothe container floor, a side insulation member supported between the sidemembers of adjacent frame structures, the side insulation memberdefining an inner surface that is coplanar with respective innersurfaces of the side members, and an impermeable liner configured tohold a large volume of liquid, the liner including a plurality of linerwalls with at least one liner wall positioned against the inner surfaceof the side insulation member and the inner surfaces of the side membersof the adjacent frame structures such that the at least one liner wallis supported against a hydraulic load of the liquid.

The receptacle and system disclosed herein address many problems in thecurrent state of the art. The receptacle and system address corrosionrelated issues by isolating corrosion-sensitive materials from theliquid reactor. The receptacle and system also provide complete accessto all liquid holding reactors in a similar way as traditional treatmenttanks, while also solving the structural and environmental (externaltemperature) challenges presented by the containerized form factor wheninstalled at grade in cold climates. The modular nature of thereceptacle and system allows for the liquid holding components to besized appropriately for the design flow and target effluent limitsneeded, thereby exploiting the advantages of the containerized formwhile addressing the shortcomings of the relatively weak metalcontainer. The receptacle and system can be deployed to achieve a widerange of tank sizes and depths while utilizing a significant portion ofthe interior space of the shipping container for reactor volume. Toaccommodate tank and equipment access, the entire plan area of thereactor is observable from above and an integral handrail post isprovided in the frame for built-in fall protection.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, willbecome more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art byreference to the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings. While it would be desirable to provide scalable, modularreceptacle that provides one or more of these or other advantageousfeatures, the teachings disclosed herein extend to those embodimentswhich fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless ofwhether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a scalable, modular receptacleconfigured to hold a large volume of liquid;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 without anoverhead grating panel and with the receptacle positioned on an externalsupport surface;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 without aliner and without selected side insulation members in order to betterillustrate a frame of the receptacle;

FIG. 3A shows an enlarged detail view of an elongate bottom link memberof the receptacle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3B shows an enlarged detail view of an elongate link member of thereceptacle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3C shows an enlarged auxiliary view of an elongate link member asviewed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 shows a front plan view of the receptacle of FIG. 3 illustratingone of a plurality of spaced-apart frame structures that form thereceptacle;

FIG. 5 shows a side plan view of the receptacle of FIG. 0.2;

FIG. 6 shows a section view of the receptacle of FIG. 5 along line A-A;

FIG. 7 shows a section cut of the receptacle of FIG. 5 along line B-B;

FIG. 7A shows an enlarged detail view of a portion of the receptacle ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the liner of the receptacle of FIG. 2without the frame and without the insulation members;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a wastewater treatment system thatincludes the receptacle of FIG. 1 integrated in an intermodal shippingcontainer; and

FIG. 10 shows a top view of a portion of the wastewater treatment systemof FIG. 9 with a top of the intermodal container removed to shown thespacing between the receptacle and peripheral walls of the intermodalcontainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of thedisclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and described in the following written specification. It isunderstood that no limitation to the scope of the disclosure is therebyintended. It is further understood that the disclosure includes anyalterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments andincludes further applications of the principles of the disclosure aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosurepertains.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a scalable, modular receptacle 20 for holding alarge volume of liquid. Throughout this written specification, variousdirectional terms, spatial terms, geometric terms, and other descriptiveterms are used in connection with features of the receptacle 20. As usedherein, “large volume of liquid” means a volume of liquid in a range ofabout 3,000 to 16,000 gallons. The terms “inner”, “inwardly”,“inner-facing”, “inwardly facing”, and the like refer to a directionthat points or faces towards a liquid held by the receptacle 20. Theterms “outer”, “outwardly”, “outer-facing”, “outwardly facing”, and thelike refer to a direction that points or faces away from a liquid heldby the receptacle 20. The terms “upper”, “upwardly”, and the like referto a direction that points or a surface that faces opposite thedirection in which gravity acts on an object at rest. The terms “lower”,“downwardly”, and the like refer to a direction that points or a surfacethat faces in the direction in which gravity acts on an object. Theterms “top”, “upper-most”, and the like refer to the farthest object ina group of objects or the farthest portion of a singular object along adirection opposite the direction in which gravity acts on the group ofobjects or the singular object, respectively. The terms “bottom”,“lower-most”, and the like refer to the farthest object in a group ofobjects or the farthest portion of a singular object along a directionin which gravity acts on the group of objects or the singular object,respectively.

The term “plate-like” when used to describe different elements of thereceptacle 20 means that different features of the same element have arelatively uniform thickness that is typically much smaller than otherdimensional aspect of those different features of same given element.The term “approximately” used in connection with other terms means thatthe value following the term “approximately” is the target value, butthe value corresponding to the actual physical structure can deviatefrom the target value by an amount within acceptable manufacturingand/or assembly tolerances in the art.

The directional terms “first direction” 22, “second direction” 24, and“third direction” 26 are also used throughout this written specificationin connection with describing the features of the receptacle 20. Thefirst direction 22 is perpendicular to the second direction 24 and thethird direction 26 and is sometimes referred to in connection with a“length” of the receptacle 20 or various features of the receptacle 20.The second direction 24 is perpendicular to the first direction 22 andthe third direction 26 and is sometimes referred to in connection with a“width” of the receptacle 20 or various features of the receptacle 20.The third direction 26 is perpendicular to the first direction 22 andthe second direction 24 and is sometimes referred to in connection witha “height” or “depth” of the receptacle 20 or various features of thereceptacle 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the receptacle 20 includes a modular frameportion 21 and a liner 23 that defines a watertight structure configuredto hold the liquid. The modular frame portion 21 includes a plurality offrame structures 28 spaced from one another in the first direction 22.The adjacent frame structures 28 in the embodiment shown have acenter-to-center spacing of approximately 4 feet from one another in thefirst direction 22. In different embodiments, the spacing between theadjacent frame structures 28 is greater or lesser than 4 feet. Eachframe structure 28 is essentially identical and includes a plurality ofelongate frame members 30 aligned substantially in a plane orientednormal to the first direction 22. The phrase “a plurality of framemembers aligned substantially in a plane” means that the structure ofeach frame member 30 defines a center line passing through anapproximate geometric center of the frame member 30 in the direction ofextent of the frame member 30 and that the respective center lines ofthe frame members 30 lie on the plane.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the frame members 30 of each frame structure 28include at least two side members 32, a plate-like bottom member 34, anda top member 36. The side members 32 are spaced from one another in thesecond direction 24 and extend in parallel relationship with respect toone another in the third direction 26. The side members 32 in theembodiment shown extend a distance of 105 inches in the third direction26 although in different embodiments the side members can extend greateror lesser distances. The side members 32 each have a bottom end 38 at alower-most region of the side member 32 and a top end 40 at anupper-most region of the side member 32. The side members 32 in theembodiment shown have a square cross section when viewed in a sectionplane oriented normal to the third direction 26. In one embodiment, theside members 32 are formed from 3×3×⅛ A500 GR. C HSS. In otherembodiments, the side members 32 are formed with different dimensionsand different materials.

As best viewed in FIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape of each of the sidemembers 32 defines a plurality of surfaces including a respective innersurface 46 and a respective outer surface 48. The inner surfaces 46 ofthe side members 32 of the same frame structure 28 face one another inthe second direction 24. The outer surfaces 48 of the side members 32 ofthe same frame structure 28 face away from one another in the seconddirection 24. The plurality of surfaces of each side member 32 alsoincludes opposed side surfaces 49 that on the same side member 32 faceaway from one another in the first direction 22. The corresponding sidemembers 32 on each respective side of adjacent frame structures 28 haveside faces 49 that face one another in the first direction 22 and sidefaces that face away from one another in the first direction 22.

The bottom member 34 extends in the second direction 24 and is connectedto the side members 32 at the respective bottom ends 38 of the sidemembers 32. The bottom member 34 rests on a support surface 50 for thereceptacle 20. In some embodiments, the bottom member 34 is secured orotherwise fastened to the support surface 50 via screws or similarfastening methods. The bottom member 34 in the embodiment shown extendsa distance of 7 feet and 7¼ inches in the second direction 24 althoughin different embodiments the bottom member can extend greater or lesserdistances. The bottom member 34 is fillet welded 39 to the bottom ends38 of the side members 32 although other connection methods can be usedin other embodiments. In one embodiment, the bottom member 34 is formedfrom ¼″ A36 PL. 3½″ WIDE. In other embodiments, the bottom member 34 isformed with different dimensions and materials.

The top member 36 extends in the second direction 24 and is connected tothe side members 32 at the respective top ends 40 of the side members32. The top member 36 can include an attachment structure 52 configuredto enable attachment of one or more objects thereto for suspension overthe liner 23 and/or penetration into the watertight structure defined bythe liner 23. The attachment structure 52 in one embodiment is Unistrut®channel. The top member 36 in the embodiment shown extends a distance of7 feet and 7¾ inches in the second direction 24 although in differentembodiments the top member can extend greater or lesser distances. Thetop member 36 is fillet welded 41 to angle members 42, which arerespectively attached to the side member 32 via respective fasteners 44.In other embodiments, the top member 36 is attached directly orindirectly to the side members 32 via other connection methods. Theangle members 42 in the embodiment shown are formed from 3×3×¼ A304 SSANGLE 2½″ LG. W/ 9/16″ HOLE, although the angle members 42 in differentembodiments can have different dimensions and materials. In oneembodiment, the top member 36 is formed from 3×3×⅛ A304 SS HSS. In otherembodiments, the top member 36 is formed with different dimensions anddifferent materials.

The modular frame portion 21 further includes at least one elongate linkmember 54 that extends in the first direction 22 and that connects theadjacent frame structures 28 at the side members 32 along each side ofthe frame structures 28. In other words, the adjacent frame structures28 are connected by at least two elongate link members 54 with one linkmember 54 disposed on one side of the adjacent frame structures 28 andthe other link member 54 disposed on the other side of the adjacentframe structures 28. The link members 54 in the embodiment shown extenda distance of 45 inches in the first direction 22 although in differentembodiments the link members can extend greater or lesser distances.

In some embodiments, the modular frame portion 21 includes a pluralityof elongate link members 54 that are spaced apart from one another inthe third direction 26 on each side of the adjacent frame structures 28.The spacing between the adjacent link members 54 in some of theseembodiments is equal. The spacing in at least one of these embodimentsis 2 feet and ¾ inches between all of the adjacent link members 54 onthe same side. In other embodiments, the spacing varies between adjacentlink members 54 on the same side of the adjacent frame structures 28.The link members 54 are additionally spaced in the third direction 26from the bottom ends 38 and the top ends 40 of the side members 32.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 3B, and 3C, the link members 54 each include aplate-like first body portion 56 and a plate-like second body portion58. The first body portion 56 is oriented in a plane normal to thesecond direction 24, and the second body portion 58 is oriented in aplane normal to the third direction 26. The second body portion 58extends inwardly from the first body portion 56 and bisects the firstbody portion 56 such that the link member 54 has a shape in the form ofthe letter T laid on its side. The first body portion 56 defines anupper inner surface 60 and a lower inner surface 62 separated from theupper inner surface 60 by the second body portion 58. With particularreference to FIG. 7A, the first body portion 56 also defines an outersurface 64 that faces outwardly in the second direction 24. The outersurface 64 of the first body portion 56 of each link member 54 isaligned flush with the respective outer surfaces 48 of the side members32 of the adjacent frame structures 48 when viewed in the thirddirection 26. In other words, the outer surfaces 64 of the link members54 are coplanar with the outer surfaces 48 of the side members 32.

With reference again to FIGS. 3, 3B, and 3C, the second body portion 58defines an upper surface 66 and a lower surface 68 that faces oppositethe upper surface 66 in the third direction 26. The link members 54 inthe embodiment shown connect the adjacent frame structures 28 via filletwelds 69 along ends of the first body portion 56 and the second bodyportion 58 at facing side surfaces 49 of the side members 32. The linkmembers 54 in other embodiments can connect the adjacent framestructures 28 via other fastening methods. The link members 54 in theembodiment shown are formed from MT3×1.85 A36 TEE, although the linkmembers 54 in different embodiments can have different dimensions andmaterials.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, 5-7, and 7A, the modular frame portion 21further includes at least one side insulation member 70 that issupported between the side members 32 of the adjacent frame structures28 along each side of the frame structures 28. In other words, themodular frame portion 21 includes at least two side insulation members70 with one side insulation member 70 supported on one side of theadjacent frame structures 28 and the other side insulation member 70supported on the other side of the adjacent frame structures 28.

In some embodiments, the modular frame portion 21 includes a pluralityof side insulation members 70 arranged approximately end to end in thethird direction 26 on each side of the adjacent frame structures 28. Theside insulation members 70 each define an inner surface 72 that extendsin a plane normal to the second direction 24 and an outer surface 74that faces opposite the inner surface in the second direction 24. Withparticular reference to FIG. 7A, the inner surface 72 of each of theside insulation members 70 is aligned flush with the respective innersurfaces 46 of the side members 32 when viewed in the third direction26. In other words, the inner surfaces 72 of the side insulation members70 are coplanar with the inner surfaces 46 of the side members 32.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, 5-7, and 7A, the side insulation members70 in the embodiment shown are formed from commercially available rigidfoam with a predetermined flexural strength so that the side insulationmembers 70 do not buckle under load between the side members 32 of theadjacent frame structures 28. The side insulation members provide bothwall rigidity and insulation for the receptacle 20. In at least oneembodiment, the side insulation members 70 are formed from a rigidinsulation material, such as 3″ O.C. FOAMULAR® 600 RIGID FOAM, with anoverall length dimension of 44½ inches in the first direction 22 and anoverall height of 24 inches in the third direction 26. In differentembodiments, the side insulation members 70 can have differentdimensions and materials.

The link members 54 on each side of the adjacent frame structures 28each support at least one side insulation member 70 via direct contact.Additionally, at least one link member 54 on each side of the adjacentframe structures 28 supports at least two side insulation members 70 viadirect contact. More specifically, at least one of the upper innersurface 60 and the lower inner surface 62 of the first body portion 56of each link member 54 supports the outer surface 74 of the sideinsulation member 70 in the second direction 24 via direct contact.Similarly, at least one of the upper surface 66 and the lower surface 68of the second body portion 58 of each link member 54 supports an end ofthe side insulation member 70 in the third direction 26 via directcontact.

The modular frame portion 21 in some embodiments also includes at leastone top side insulation member 76 that is supported between the sidemembers 32 of the adjacent frame structures 28 along each side of theframe structures 28. The top side insulation member 76 is essentiallyidentical to the side insulation member 70 except that the overallheight of the top side insulation member 76 is less than the overallheight of the side insulation member 70. In the embodiment shown, theoverall height of the top side insulation member 76 is approximately 6¾inches in the third direction 26.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 3A, and 6, the modular frame portion 21 furtherincludes at least one elongate bottom link member 78 that extends in thefirst direction 22 and that connects the adjacent frame structures 28 ina region proximate to the bottom ends 38 of the side members 32 alongeach side of the frame structures 28. The bottom link member 78 has anupward-extending inner flange 80 and an upward-extending outer flange 82that is spaced from the inner flange 80 in the second direction 24. Theinner flange 80 extends upwardly in the third direction 26 a greaterdistance than a distance in which the outer flange 82 extends upwardly.In some embodiments, the inner flange 80 and the outer flange 82 areformed from separate bodies, which are attached to one another to formthe bottom link member 78. In these embodiments, the inner flange 80 isformed from 3×2×¼ A36 ANGLE and the outer flange 82 is formed from 1×1×¼A36 ANGLE. In other embodiments, the inner flange 80 and the outerflange 82 can have different dimensions and materials. The bottom linkmembers 78 in the embodiment shown connect the adjacent frame structures28 via fillet welds 85 along opposed ends of the inner flange 80 and theouter flange 82 at facing side surfaces 49 of the side members 32. Thebottom link members 78 in other embodiments can connect the adjacentframe structures 28 via other fastening methods.

The inner flange 80 of the bottom link member 78 defines an inner flangesurface 84 (FIG. 6) that is oriented in a plane normal to the seconddirection 24. The inner flange surface 84 of each of the bottom linkmembers 78 is aligned flush with the inner surfaces 46 of the sidemembers 32 of the adjacent frame structures 28 when viewed in the thirddirection 26.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the outer surfaces 74 of the side insulationmembers 70 are recessed along both the top and bottom ends. Theserecesses enable the ends of the side insulation members 70 to sit flushagainst the upper surfaces 66 and the lower surfaces 68 of the linkmembers 54 and permit the non-recessed portions of the outer surfaces 74to be aligned with the outer surfaces 48 of the side members 32. Theserecesses also enable the inner surfaces 72 of the side insulationmembers 70 to be aligned with the inner surfaces 46 of the side members32. The inner surface 72 and the outer surface 74 of the lower-most sideinsulation members 70 are recessed along the bottom ends in a differentmanner than the top ends in order to accommodate the inner flange 80 andthe outer flange 82 of the bottom link members 78. The non-recessedportions of the inner surfaces 72 and the outer surfaces 74 of thelower-most side insulation members 70 are aligned with the innersurfaces 46 and the outer surfaces 48 of the side members, respectively.The outer surfaces 74 of the top side insulation members 76 are recessedonly along the bottom ends since the top side insulation members 76 aresupported by the link members 54 only along the bottom ends.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 6, the receptacle 20 further includes atleast one bottom insulation member 86 that is positioned on the supportsurface 50 of the receptacle 20. The bottom insulation member 86 spansin the first direction 22 between the bottom members 34 of at least twoadjacent frame structures 28. The bottom insulation member 86 also spansin the second direction 24 between the inner flange surfaces 84 of thebottom link members 78 and the inner surfaces 46 of the side members 32on each side of the adjacent frame structures 28. The bottom insulationmember 86 defines a lower surface 88 that faces the support surface 50of the receptacle 20 and an upper surface 90 that faces opposite thelower surface in the third direction 26. The lower surface 88 of thebottom insulation member 86 includes a plurality of recesses thatcorrespond to the bottom members 34. These recesses enable thenon-recessed portions of the lower surface 88 to sit flush against thesupport surface 50, which in turn permits the lower surface 88 and theupper surface 90 of the bottom insulation member 86 to remain parallelwith the support surface 50. In some embodiments, the bottom insulationmember 86 includes a plurality of smaller-sized bottom insulationmembers 86 positioned adjacent to one another in order to form the lowersurface 88 and the upper surface 90. The bottom insulation member 86 isformed from material similar to the material of the side insulationmember 70.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 8, the liner 23 includes a floor 92 and aplurality of walls 94 that extend generally perpendicularly from thefloor 92 in the third direction 26. The floor 92 and the plurality ofwalls 94 define the watertight structure that is configured to hold theliquid. The floor 92 of the liner 23 rests on the upper surface 90 ofthe bottom insulation member 86 and spans across the upper surface inboth the first direction 22 and the second direction 24. The pluralityof walls 94 includes at least two side walls 96 that are respectivelypositioned in direct contact with the inner surfaces 72 of the sideinsulation members 70 and the inner surfaces 46 of the side members 32of the adjacent frame structures 28. The side insulation members 70 arean important feature of the modular frame portion 21 in that the sideinsulation members 70 keep the liner 23 straight and provide structuralresistance to counteract the hydraulic load in the receptacle 20. Theside walls 96 each have a bottom portion that is supported against thehydraulic load of the liquid via direct contact with the inner flangesurfaces 84 of the bottom link members 78 and the inner surfaces 46 ofthe side members 32 of the adjacent frame structures 28. The side walls96 are connected directly to the floor 92 along the bottom portion.

The plurality of walls 94 of the liner 23 further includes a frontbulkhead 98 and a rear bulkhead 100 that is spaced from the frontbulkhead 98 in the first direction 22. The front bulkhead 98 and therear bulkhead 100 span between the side walls 96 in the second direction24 and are connected directly to the side walls 96. The front bulkhead98 and the rear bulkhead 100 each include a plurality of plate-likereinforcing members 102 that are attached to a respective surface of thefront bulkhead 98 and the rear bulkhead 100. The reinforcing members 102span across the respective surfaces of the front bulkhead 98 and therear bulkhead 100 and are connected directly to the side walls 96. Inthe embodiment shown, the reinforcing members 102 are spaced equallyfrom one another in the third direction 26, although in differentembodiments the spacing between adjacent reinforcing members 102 varies.In the embodiment shown, the plurality of walls 94 further includes anintermediate bulkhead 104 positioned between and spaced from the frontbulkhead 98 and the rear bulkhead 100 in the first direction 22. Thebulkheads 98, 100, 104 have respective heights in the third direction 26that can be identical in some embodiments or that vary from bulkhead tobulkhead in other embodiments.

The different elements of the liner 23, including the floor 92, the sidewalls 96, the bulkheads 98, 100, 104, and the reinforcing members 102,are preferably formed from the same material. In the embodiment shown,the material of the liner 23 is polypropylene, high-densitypolyethylene, or a similar polymeric material with comparable structuralproperties. In the embodiment shown, floor 92, the side walls 96, andthe bulkheads 98, 100, 104 are each formed from a plurality of distinctstructures or panels that collectively form the specific liner element.For instance, with particular reference to FIG. 8, the floor 92 isformed from at least two distinct panels, the side walls 96 are formedfrom two distinct panels, and the bulkheads 98, 100, 104 are formed fromtwo distinct panels. The watertight structure formed by the liner 23 ismade watertight by seam-welding the various connections among the floor92, the side walls 96, and the bulkheads 98, 100, 104. The liner 23 inthe embodiment shown has a thickness of about ½ inches, although indifferent embodiments the thickness of the liner 23 can be greater orlesser than ½ inches.

Referring to FIG. 1, the receptacle 20 further includes a grate member106 that spans between the top members 36 of the adjacent framestructure 28. The grate member 106 forms a grate surface that isconfigured to support the weight of one or more of an operator andvarious processing equipment to be used in connection with thereceptacle 20. The grate member 106 is configured to be movable so as toprovide an opening to the structure defined by the liner 23. In oneembodiment, the grate member has a hinge that enable the gate member 106to be selectively pivoted to provide the opening to the structuredefined by the liner 23. In another embodiment, the grate member 106rests upon the top members 36 such that the grate member 106 can bemoved simply by lifting the grate member 106 from the top members 36.The grate member 106 defines a bottom surface upon which a topinsulation member 108 is affixed. The top insulation member 108 spansbetween the top members in order to further insulate the liquid held bythe liner 23. In some embodiments, the grate member 106 includes aplurality of grate members 106 disposed across the top members 36 of theframe structures 28 with each grate member including a respective topinsulation member 108.

The receptacle 20 in the embodiment shown includes four frame structures28 spaced apart in the first direction 22. The scalable, modular natureof the receptacle 20 arises because the receptacle 20 in differentembodiments can have more or less than four frame structures 28. Forexample, a first modular frame portion 21 can include two adjacent framestructure 28 and a first group of link members 54, insulation members70, 76, 86, and bottom link members 78. A second modular frame portion25 can include a second frame structure 28 spaced from one of theadjacent frame structures 28 of the first modular frame portion 21 alongwith a second group of link members 54, insulation members 70, 76, 86,and bottom link members 78 associated with the second modular frameportion 25. A receptacle that includes both the first modular frameportion 21 and the second modular frame portion 21 would be longer inthe first direction 22 than a receptacle that includes only the firstmodular frame portion 21.

A third modular frame portion 27 can include a third frame structure 28spaced from the second frame structure 28 of the second modular frameportion 25 along with a third group of link members 54, insulationmembers 70, 76, 86, and bottom link members 78 associated with the thirdmodular frame portion 27. A receptacle that includes the first modularframe portion 21, the second modular frame portion 25, and the thirdmodular frame portion 27 would be longer in the first direction 22 thana receptacle that includes only the first modular frame portion 21 andthe second modular frame portion 25. Thus, the size of the receptacle 20is customizable at least in the first direction 22 by selecting anappropriate number of modular frame portions 21, 25, 27 to be placedadjacent to one another. The size of the liner 23 in the first direction22 is also customizable in that it can overlap some or all of themodular frame portions 21, 25, 27.

FIGS. 9 and 10 depict a wastewater treatment system 120 that includes anintermodal container 122 and a free-standing, modular receptacle, suchas the receptacle 20 of FIGS. 1-8, integrated in the intermodal shippingcontainer 122. The intermodal container 122 is a large standardizedshipping container configured to be used across different modes oftransport without unloading and reloading the contents therein. Theintermodal container 122 is configured as a rectangular, closed box witha plurality of walls 124 that define an interior of the container 122.The plurality of walls 124 includes a bottom or floor 126, two opposedside walls 128 (one side wall not shown for clarity), a rear end wall130, a front end wall 132 disposed opposite the rear end wall 130, and atop or ceiling (not shown for clarity). The front end wall 132 is formedby a pair of pivotable doors 134 that expose an opening into theinterior of the intermodal container 122. The walls 124 of theintermodal container 122 are made of corrugated weathering steel, and alayer of plywood or steel is positioned on the floor 126 within theintermodal container 122. The plywood in the embodiment showncorresponds to the support surface 50.

The intermodal container 122 in the embodiment shown is of standard sizehaving a length of twenty feet or forty feet in the first direction 22,although the container in other embodiments can have different lengths.The intermodal container 122 has a width of 8 feet in the seconddirection 24 and a height of 8 feet 6 inches in the third direction 26.In another embodiment, the intermodal container 122 is configured as a“High Cube” container with a height of 9 feet 6 inches. In yet furtherembodiments, the intermodal container 122 can have different widths andheights. The intermodal container 122 is positioned on a reinforcedsurface 136 (FIG. 2), such as a concrete slab.

The receptacle 20 is positioned within the interior of the intermodalcontainer 122. The receptacle 20 in some embodiments rests on thesupport surface 50. In other embodiments, one or more bottom members 34of the frame structures 28 are secured directly to the support surface50 via fasters or similar means of connection. As best shown in FIG. 10,the receptacle 20 is spaced from the side walls 128, the rear end wall130, and the doors 134 of the intermodal container 122 such that thereceptacle is free-standing. The spacing between the receptacle 20 andthe intermodal container 122 is such that the intermodal container 122provides no lateral support to counteract the hydraulic load on thereceptacle 20 from the liquid held therein. The receptacle 20 in atleast one embodiment is configured to hold up to 16,000 gallons (orapproximately 133,500 pounds) of water, although the receptacle 20 inother embodiments holds different amounts of water or other liquids. Thevolumetric capacity of the receptacle 20 is adjustable by selecting anappropriate number of modular frame portions 21, 25, 27 to be placedadjacent to one another and by customizing the liner 23 to overlap someor all of the modular frame portions 21, 25, 27.

In some embodiments, further insulation is positioned between thereceptacle 20 and the walls 124 of the intermodal container 122. Forinstance, commercially-available, closed-cell spray foam could beapplied to fill the space between the receptacle 20 and the intermodalcontainer 122 in order to increase the R value of the insulation aroundthe liner 23.

The wastewater treatment system further includes various utilities thatinteract with the watertight structure defined by the liner 23 of thereceptacle 20. As an example, diffusers can be suspended from the topmembers 36 of the receptacle 20 and penetrate into the liquid held bythe liner 23. The top members 36 in some embodiments also support pipes,ducts, or other material transport equipment and/or wiring that passover the liner 23. The top members 36 in some embodiments also supportutilities that penetrate through one or more of the bulkheads 98, 100,104 of the liner 23.

The receptacle 20 can be assembled in the intermodal container 122 inseveral different ways. One method involves constructing individualsections or portions of the receptacle either off-container as a wholeand installed as a subassembly at regular intervals, or inside thecontainer in individual pieces as preferred by the assembler. Anothermethod involves assembling the sides of the receptacle lengthwise insidethe intermodal container and then connecting the top members from sideto side to complete the receptacle.

The foregoing detailed description of one or more embodiments of thescalable, modular receptacle has been presented herein by way of exampleonly and not limitation. It will be recognized that there are advantagesto certain individual features and functions described herein that maybe obtained without incorporating other features and functions describedherein. Moreover, it will be recognized that various alternatives,modifications, variations, or improvements of the above-disclosedembodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof,may be desirably combined into many other different embodiments, systemsor applications. For instance, under some hydraulic loads, the bulkheads98, 100, 104 can deflect outwardly by some amount. In one alternativeembodiment, one or more of the bulkheads 98, 100, 104 is furtherreinforced by an elongate center member that extends in the thirddirection 26 and rests against a surface of the bulkheads 98, 100, 104.In some of these alternative embodiments, the center member is securedto the frame structure 28 closest to the reinforced bulkhead by one ormore structural members. Presently unforeseen or unanticipatedalternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may besubsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended tobe encompassed by the appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scopeof any appended claims should not be limited to the description of theembodiments contained herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A scalable, modular receptacle for holdinga liquid, comprising: a plurality of frame structures spaced apart in afirst direction, each frame structure including a plurality of framemembers aligned in a plane normal to the first direction, the framemembers including at least two elongate side members spaced apart in asecond direction orthogonal to the first direction, the side membersextending in a third direction orthogonal to the first and seconddirections; a side insulation member supported between the side membersof adjacent frame structures, the side insulation member defining aninner surface that extends in a plane normal to the second direction andthat is coplanar with respective inner surfaces of the side members; andan impermeable liner configured to hold a large volume of the liquid,the liner including a plurality of walls with at least one wallpositioned against the inner surface of the side insulation member andthe inner surfaces of the side members of the adjacent frame structuressuch that the at least one wall is supported against a hydraulic load ofthe liquid; and an elongate link member that extends in the firstdirection and that connects the adjacent frame structures at the sidemembers, the side insulation member supported between the side membersof the adjacent frame structures by the link member, wherein the linkmember includes a plurality of link members spaced apart from oneanother in the third direction, wherein the side insulation memberincludes a plurality of side insulation members, and wherein each linkmember supports at least one side insulation member via direct contact.2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein at least one link member of theplurality of link members supports at least two side insulation membersvia direct contact.
 3. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof link members are (i) spaced from opposed ends of the side members inthe third direction and (ii) equally spaced apart from one another inthe third direction.
 4. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising anelongate bottom link member that extends in the first direction and thatconnects the adjacent frame structures at bottom ends of the sidemembers, the bottom link member having an upward-extending inner flangeand an upward-extending outer flange spaced from the inner flange in thesecond direction.
 5. The receptacle of claim 4, wherein the inner flangeof the bottom link member defines an inner flange surface that iscoplanar with the inner surfaces of the side members, and wherein abottom portion of the at least one wall of the liner is supported in thesecond direction via direct contact with the inner flange surface of thebottom link member and the inner surfaces of the side members.
 6. Thereceptacle of claim 1, wherein: the frame members of each framestructure further include a plate-like bottom member attached to bottomends of the side members, the bottom member in direct contact with asupport surface for the receptacle, a bottom insulation member spansbetween the bottom members of adjacent frame structures and rests on thebottom members and the support surface, the bottom insulation memberdefining an upper surface, and wherein a floor of the liner is supportedby the bottom insulation member.
 7. The receptacle of claim 1, whereinthe frame members of each frame structure further include a top memberattached to top ends of the side members, the top member including anattachment structure configured to attach at least one object theretofor one or more of suspension over the liner and penetration into theliner.
 8. The receptacle of claim 7, further comprising a grate memberspanning between the top members of adjacent frame structures, the gratemember configured to be movable relative to the top members so as toprovide an opening into the liner.
 9. The receptacle of claim 8, whereina top insulation member is affixed to a bottom surface of the gratemember, the top insulation member spanning between the top members. 10.The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall of the linerincludes two side walls spaced apart in the second direction, andwherein the plurality of walls of the liner further includes at leasttwo bulkheads that (i) are spaced apart in the first direction, (ii)extend perpendicularly from a floor of the liner, and (iii) span betweenthe two side walls of the liner, each bulkhead including a plurality ofplate-like reinforcing members that span between the two side walls andare attached to the bulkhead and the two side walls.
 11. A scalable,modular receptacle for holding a liquid comprising: a plurality of framestructures spaced apart in a first direction, each frame structureincluding a plurality of frame members aligned in a plane normal to thefirst direction, the frame members including at least two elongate sidemembers spaced apart in a second direction orthogonal to the firstdirection, the side members extending in a third direction orthogonal tothe first and second directions; a side insulation member supportedbetween the side members of adjacent frame structures, the sideinsulation member defining an inner surface that extends in a planenormal to the second direction and that is coplanar with respectiveinner surfaces of the side members; an impermeable liner configured tohold a large volume of the liquid, the liner including a plurality ofwalls with at least one wall positioned against the inner surface of theside insulation member and the inner surfaces of the side members of theadjacent frame structures such that the at least one wall is supportedagainst a hydraulic load of the liquid; and an elongate link member thatextends in the first direction and that connects the adjacent framestructures at the side members, the side insulation member supportedbetween the side members of the adjacent frame structures by the linkmember, wherein the link member has (i) a plate-like first body portionoriented in a plane normal to the second direction and (ii) a plate-likesecond body portion oriented in a plane normal to the third direction,the second body portion extending inwardly from the first body portionand bisecting the first body portion such that the link member has ashape in the form of the letter T on its side.
 12. The receptacle ofclaim 11, wherein the first body portion of the link member defines anupper inner surface and a lower inner surface separated from the upperinner surface by the second body portion, wherein the side insulationmember has an outer surface facing opposite the inner surface, andwherein at least one of the upper inner surface and the lower innersurface supports the outer surface of the side insulation member in thesecond direction via direct contact.
 13. The receptacle of claim 11,wherein the first body portion of the link member defines an outersurface that is coplanar with respective outer surfaces of the sidemembers of the adjacent frame structures.
 14. The receptacle of claim11, wherein the second body portion defines an upper surface and a lowersurface facing opposite the upper surface, at least one of the uppersurface and the lower surface supporting the side insulation member inthe third direction via direct contact.
 15. A container system fortreating wastewater, comprising: an intermodal shipping container with acontainer floor and a plurality of container walls extending from thecontainer floor, the container floor and the container walls defining aninterior of the intermodal shipping container; and a scalable, modularreceptacle positioned on the container floor and spaced apart from thecontainer walls, the receptacle including: a plurality of framestructures spaced apart in a first direction, each frame structureincluding a plurality of frame members aligned in a plane normal to thefirst direction, the frame members including at least two elongate sidemembers spaced apart in a second direction orthogonal to the firstdirection, the side members extending perpendicularly relative to thecontainer floor in a third direction orthogonal to the first and seconddirections, a side insulation member supported between the side membersof adjacent frame structures, the side insulation member defining aninner surface that extends in a plane normal to the second direction andthat is coplanar with respective inner surfaces of the side members, animpermeable liner configured to hold a large volume of liquid, the linerincluding a plurality of liner walls with at least one liner wallpositioned against the inner surface of the side insulation member andthe inner surfaces of the side members of the adjacent frame structuressuch that the at least one liner wall is supported against a hydraulicload of the liquid, and an elongate link member that extends in thefirst direction and that connects the adjacent frame structures at theside members, the side insulation member supported between the sidemembers of the adjacent frame structures by the link member, wherein thelink member includes a plurality of link members spaced apart from oneanother in the third direction, wherein the side insulation memberincludes a plurality of side insulation members, and wherein each linkmember supports at least one side insulation member via direct contact.16. The container system of claim 15, wherein: the receptacle includes afirst modular frame portion with two adjacent frame structures and afirst group of side insulation members supported between the twoadjacent frame structures, the receptacle includes a second modularframe portion with (i) a second frame structure spaced apart from one ofthe two adjacent frame structures and (ii) a second group of sideinsulation members supported between the second frame structure and theone of the two adjacent frame structures, and wherein the at least oneliner wall overlaps at least a portion of the first modular frameportion and the second modular frame portion.
 17. The container systemof claim 16, wherein the receptacle includes N further modular frameportions where N is an integer greater than 1, each further modularframe portion including (i) a further frame structure spaced apart froman outermost frame structure and (ii) a further group of side insulationmembers supported between the further frame structure and the outermostframe structure.